SOME FEATURES OF THE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE REGIME IN THE TROPICAL STRATOSPHERE

Abstract The annual temperature regime in the tropical stratosphere between 100 mb. and 10 mb. is examined on the basis of five years of data from six stations, ranging in latitude from 9° N. to 34° N. The principal result of interest is the finding of a pronounced semiannual component in the temperature variation above the 30-mb. level (24 km.), especially at stations near the equator. It is suggested that this may be caused by the direct absorption of solar ultraviolet radiation by ozone in a region where the heating cycle is predominantly semiannual.